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Queen Juliana of the Netherlands dies at age 94

Juliana, the people's Queen of the Netherlands who helped the country and its citizens recover from World War II and oversaw the independence of the remaining colonies, died yesterday at the age of 94.

The state information service said she died of a lung infection at 5:50am in the Soestdijk palace where she had lived most of her long life.

Three of her four daughters, including Queen Beatrix, were present when she died and the fourth landed shortly afterwards from the US. Crown-prince Willem Alexander is returning from holidays in Austria.

Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende said in a televised speech that Juliana, who reigned for 32 years from 1948, had been a Queen "for the people and not for the directors" and had said she would have wanted to be a social worker if she had not become Queen.

"Together with Prince Bernhard, she worked for the reconstruction of our country after World War II. Supported by her religion, she was an indefatigable campaigner for solidarity, community spirit and human dignity," he said.

"With the horrors of war still on her mind, she was a warm supporter of increasing cooperation between European nations," he added. Flags were lowered at Dutch official buildings until her burial and mourners began gathering in the rain outside the palace. The date for the funeral has not yet been set.

Juliana was much loved in the Netherlands. It is her birthday, on April 30, that is still celebrated as the Dutch Queen's Day holiday.

The shy and soft-spoken Juliana ascended to the throne in 1948 and soon captured hearts both at home and abroad as she strove to bring the royal family closer to the people. The royal family spent the war time in Canada.

The "bicycling monarch" shopped at her local supermarket and sent her children to state school. Her popularity prompted the labor party to drop its demand to turn the country into a republic.

Juliana Louise Emma Marie Wilhelmina was born in the Hague, the only child of Queen Wilhelmina and Prince Hendrik.

Juliana was not seen in public in recent years. Her health had worsened after breaking her hip in a fall at a friend's house in April, 1998. She suffered some loss of memory and was "confused."

Since then she has needed round-the-clock medical care. In 2001, Bernhard announced Juliana had lost practically all her memory.

During her last public appearance, at the wedding of her grandson Prince Maurits and Marilene van den Broek in May, 1998, she looked weak and was not keen to have her picture taken.

But even then, Juliana -- a devout Protestant -- caused an uproar in the press after taking Roman Catholic holy communion.
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